The big day approaches.  I really only have a few weeks left as a woman in her late thirties.  Despite all I thought I was, (confident and wise) I am fairly apprehensive about how I am going to handle it when those numbers flip over to this big milestone decade.  I am doing all the cliche “taking stock”, questioning my life’s direction, feeling time’s squeeze etc.  Of course I want to age.  Who doesn’t?  Really, aging is the goal.  Let’s make this life long and good.   N’s 16th birthday was an emotional day for me.  Along those same taking stock lines.  I’ve been a mom for 16 years, yet just yesterday I was 16 myself.  Though the kids can’t believe it.  Teaching N to drive elicited this “It was easier for you to learn to drive because there weren’t as many cars on the road”.  In actual terms this may be so, but what is he picturing?  Long stretches of empty dirt roads with the occasional Model T rumbling slowly by?  Oh to be 16 again.  The look of delight on his face when he passed that learner’s test formed a lump in my throat.  Though, admittedly, many things seemt to bring me close to tears these days.  Can you imagine being on the threshold of life?  I sound like a 90 year old here! But that’s how he is.  High school, good looking kid, smart, learning to drive.  It’s all ahead for him.  So much to come.  Of course I had some pretty bleak years in there I would not want to repeat.  But if I had it to do over again…….  Ah, that’s really what it’s all about isn’t it?  Anyway, it’s all good.  Summer isn’t yet halfway over and there is fun to be had.